Our Judges

Our 2018 Judges

Chair of Show - Mr Andrew Corrigan MW

Andrew Corrigan MW has been fascinated by food and wine from a young age. He became a Master of Wine in 1997 after passing the rigorous exams of the London based Institute of Masters of Wine. Andrew is one of fifteen Masters of Wine in Australia, of which there are only about 400 in the world. He has been involved in restaurant ownership and management and has consulted on several award winning wine lists. He is a regular contributor to Winestate Magazine, The Wine Spectator (U.S) The Courier Mail, The Sydney Morning Herald and Gourmet Traveller. He is known as an excellent wine educator and presents regularly in Australia as well as at international seminars for the Masters of Wine.

Andrew Corrigan MW was the instigator of the Cairns Show Wine Awards with the view of promoting wines suitable or adaptable to the tropical palate and lifestyle.

Affiliated: Ewine Consult, Hidden Creek Vineyard

Panel Chair - Mr Andrew Spinaze

Andrew Spinaze has been at the front line of Tyrrell's move from a small family winery to serious industry player. Born and raised on NSW's north coast near Lismore, Andrew joined Tyrrell's in 1980, after completing his studies at Roseworthy Agricultural College in Adelaide. He became Chief Winemaker in 1989 overseeing all winemaking operations at both Tyrrell's lower and upper Hunter wineries with an overall crush of 4,000 tonnes.

In 2004, Andrew was named "Winemaker of the Year" by Winestate Magazine and QANTAS Gourmet Traveller. Andrew has also twice won the Malaysia Airlines Prize for the Winemaker of the Most Outstanding Red or White Wine at the Adelaide Wine Show.” Other recent judging has been at the Canberra National Wine Show and Chairman of the Royal Perth Wine Show.

Panel Judge - Mr Tony Hooper

Tony is a Sparkling Winemaker for Pernod Ricard Winemakers and judge with experience in several shows including Brisbane Wine show. Tony's wealth of winemaking experience has been built over 25 vintages in both Australia and new Zealand providing him with an excellent insight into both cool and warm climate viticulture and winemaking

Panel Judge - Mr Hamish Seabrook

Currently Hamish is not only Winemaker and Managing Director of his own company Seabrook Wine but also Senior Winemaker for Kirrihill Wines. Prior to this he held the role of Senior Winemaker/ Manager at Brown Brother, Milawa and Winemaker at Bests, Great Western. Hamish a fifth generation winemaker regularly judges at varies wine shows including Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Rutherglen and Barossa. Hamish holds many achievements to date include numerous awards, trophies, medals and the Dux of the prestigious Len Evans Tutorial 2004.

Panel Judge - Mr Andrew Santarossa

Andrew has over 15 years winemaking experience with some of Australia's leading wine companies including Domaine Chandon, Houghton's and Giant Steps. Andrew is an accomplished wine show judge and panel chair across multiple Australian States and in 2016 was the Chief Judge at the Victorian Wine Show. Andrew is the winemaker for a joint venture wine company - santa & D'Sas . Andrew also leases a vineyard in the Upper Yarra Valley with his wife Megan where they grow Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wine grapes and make wines under their own labels - Better Hal, Red Saint and Son glass. They have two sons "